The iron-ore export hub of Port Hedland has started clearing vessels as a tropical low tracks toward the Western Australian coast, the latest in a series of storm-related disruptions for the region this year.
All anchorages at the harbor are expected to be cleared by 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. local time on Wednesday, according to a notice from operator Pilbara Ports Authority. The port is Australia’s biggest exporter of iron-ore.
The tropical low is currently 290 km northwest of Broome and is likely develop into a cyclone on Wednesday, according to Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology. The slow movement of the system as it approaches the coast may result in very high rainfall along its track.
Port Hedland handles vast volumes of iron-ore from global miners including BHP Group and Fortescue, while further south, Rio Tinto Group ships from Cape Lambert and Dampier. A cyclone last month damaged a railcar dumper at a Rio facility, prompting the company to warn of an impact to exports.
Australia’s cyclone season runs from November through to the end of April, and the Pilbara region has seen heavy rain this year from a number of systems that have tracked offshore. The Department of Fire and Emergency Services has a flood-watch warning in place. 